Wildcats suffer first loss

WOLFFORTH, Texas — A valiant comeback in the final seconds Tuesday fell short when Clovis’ Tizrick Phillips narrowly missed a potential game-winning 3-pointer in an interstate matchup.

The 49-47 loss to Frenship is the first of the season for the Clovis Wildcats, who struggled with fouls much of the game.

Even so, the Wildcats rattled off five unanswered with less than a minute remaining, including a Phillips’ 3-pointer and a deuce by Devon Sweet with six seconds remaining.

A Frenship turnover on the five-second rule gave the Wildcats a final chance, but Phillips was unable to sink a 3-pointer.

“The kids fought back, showed a lot of heart, but we didn’t play well enough defensively,” Clovis coach J.D. Isler said.

He said the Wildcats (11-1) struggled against the Tigers’ screens and cuts, giving up 10 layups.

His team also struggled with fouls.

Senior Tigg Bunton, Dominique Easterlin and Elliott Hita spent large portions of the first quarter on the bench. Bunton fouled out with six minutes left in the game. Easterlin was out 90 seconds later.

Bunton, along with Phillips, scored a team-high 12 points.

The fouls turned into a free throw advantage for Frenship.

The Tigers (11-9) made 14 of 22. Clovis was five of eight.

“It’s tough on us when we don’t get to shoot the one-on-one the entire game,” Isler said.

Post Nick Evans led the Tigers with 17 points. Guard Matt Beyer scored 14.

Frenship opened up an 18-8 lead in the first quarter, the first time this season Clovis has allowed 18 points in a quarter.

In the third, Clovis allowed 19 points.

Clovis battled back, outscoring Frenship 28-12 over the second and third quarters for a four-point lead going into the final quarter, but lost momentum.

“Sometimes when you’re undefeated, you get to thinking everything’s easy,” he said.